Top Teen Tips for the New Year

Ketaki Shriram, a 16-year-old author who managed to write her first novel, Sorceress of the Himalayas (Crystallius Press, $17.95) at age 13. Now 16, finishing her senior year in high school and preparing her college applications, Ketaki has some advice for teens priming for the New Year.

Her tips include:

Read More – “Read, read, read,” Ketaki said. “Read newspapers, books and magazines. Read more than you did last year. Pick a genre that you like and buy 5 novels – don’t ignore classics and plays or things on your schools reading list. If you liked The Matrix, you’d love George Orwell’s 1984, one of the inspirations for The Matrix.”

Get involved – According to the pollsters, the youth vote tipped the scales in favor of Barack Obama in the last election. “Young people, when united, were strong enough to change the course of one of the most powerful nations on the planet,” according to Ketaki. “Imagine how much good we could do if we all volunteered our time to a worthy cause at least once a week.”

Do something outdoors – Whether you live in the city or the suburbs, teens today are spending way too much time shackled to their computers, lounging with their iPods or texting on their phones. When weather permits, get outside for at least a few minutes every day. “Walk down to the corner store,” she said. “Ride a bike. Do something so that you don’t form bad habits that hurt your health later on in life.”

Talk to your parents – Yes, actually talk to them. Many problems that arise between parents and teens revolve around lack of communication. With time for daily communication at a premium, now more than ever it’s important to make the most of that time. “The more you talk to them about your day, your activities, your social life and yes, even your boyfriend/girlfriend, the more they will feel involved in your life,” Ketaki said. “They will trust you more, and you will benefit from their wisdom, even when you least expect it.”

Stay informed – A whopping 67 percent of high school students couldn’t identify our vice president, speaker of the House of Representatives or Senate Majority Leader. More than 30 percent didn’t know we were at war with Iraq. There is no excuse for being ill-informed about the world around you. “Know who your leaders are,” she said. “Know what’s going on in your town, your state, your country and your world. The only way to be a part of it is to know what’s going on.”

“Taking control of your own life is up to each of us,” Ketaki added. “The earlier we master it, the better our adult lives will be.”

Tips Teens Can Use to Overcome Challenges, Focus on Strengths

1. Write Down a List of Your Goals. Make long and short term goals for yourself, and try to have at least one that is related to finding a new activity or hobby to engage in. If you can try to stay focused on what you want, it’ll be easier to stay calm when school gets busy. You’re also more likely to have time to pursue a hobby or passion if you set goals and achieve them within certain time limits.

2. Create a Schedule for Yourself. By creating a schedule, you can figure out how much time you need to spend on homework. You’ll also be able to plan time for your friends in a schedule without getting behind on schoolwork. Planning ahead can also leave you with some time for any other activities you might have.

3. Don't Spend Hours on Facebook or AIM. It’s so easy to get sucked into reading the latest celebrity gossip blogs and playing tennis on your Wii. Try to finish all your homework before getting onto facebook or AIM. This will reduce your stress level.

4. Get Some Sleep, You Earned It! Try to sleep early; it’ll help you stay awake in class the next day, and you’re less likely to be irritable and fight with your friends if you’re well-rested. Aim for an absolute minimum of six hours per night. Stay off the energy drinks! They’ll affect your sleep cycle even more.

5. Create Challenges For Yourself. Trying new things will help build your confidence, keep you learning, and introduce you to new people. Choose and try at least one new fun activity that is different than what you routinely do. If you find something you are passionate about that is different from the rest of your life, you’ll be able to ignore the pressures at school with less difficulty.

From Ketaki Shriram, author of “Sorceress of the Himalayas” (Crystallius Press). She began writing in the fifth grade, and penned this novel at age 13. She is currently a high school student in Menlo Park, Calif. and this is her first published novel. Her writing has been inspired by the events and people in her life. She also uses writing as a way of teaching, learning, and as an emotional outlet for coping with negative situations and emotions. Her story focuses on succeeding and overcoming obstacles, something that she has applied to her own life. www.sorceressofthehimalayas.com